Your Daily ISD News & Updates
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Welcome to the MAISA Daily InSiDe Update. MAISA will be providing this resource of critical topics each day. Please reach out to
sfranck@gomaisa.org
if you have additional items to add.
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We have received a number of questions about the survey questions included in the links below. We know the survey questions are simple and vague. As you will see in the media coverage, there have been intense requests for data on the impact of the Executive Order as well as Personal Protection Equipment shortages. We are currently just searching for evidence on the scope of ISD mobilization in these areas. Please keep track of your costs as well, as we will be seeking reimbursement in these instances.
- ISD Essential Workers Child Care Centers Survey
- ISD Personal Protection Equipment Inventory Request
Thank you, as always, for helping us collect the most timely information.
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FCC Reminds Schools and Libraries
They May Leave the WiFi On
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Even as schools and libraries are closed for the health and safety of our communities, the FCC reminds us that the WiFi signal may be left on and utilized by the patrons and community members on school and library property. Please consider leaving your login requirements posted on the building doors.
FCC Waives Gift Rules for Rural Healthcare and E-Rate Programs
From the FCC release (linked below):
[The] waiver will allow health care providers, schools, and libraries to accept improved capacity, Wi-Fi hotspots, networking gear, or other equipment or services to support doctors and patients, teachers and students, and librarians and patrons during the Coronavirus outbreak. For example, some providers have expressed interest in providing free
network upgrades for hospitals that need more robust connections to treat patients via telemedicine and free connected devices and hotspots for students who will be taking classes at home. This waiver will enable them to do such things.
To the extent service providers are willing to offer free or reduced-cost Internet access service directly to families with school-aged children, rather than to eligible E-Rate schools and libraries on behalf of students, we find no need to waive our gift rules, which only apply to eligible entities and service providers participating in or seeking to participate in the E-Rate program.
Therefore, the assumption currently is that schools and libraries may accept gifts from providers and vendors, but those gifts must be returned or discontinued on or by September 30, 2020. If the vendor or service provider gives the equipment or the service to a private home, the gift rules do not apply and the gift itself to that private family will not effect the eligibility of the E-Rate applicant.
If you have further questions regarding E-Rate, please contact:
Joe Polasek, State E-Rate Coordinator
Education Technology Unit
Office of Systems, Evaluation, and Technology (OSET)
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Michigan Intermediate School Districts
Help Expand Child Care Capacity
for Essential Workforce
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Lansing, MI—On March 18, 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer requested that Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) across the state help expand the capacity for child care services for members of the essential workforce during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
Through Executive Order 2020-16, the Governor asked ISDs to help mobilize and coordinate disaster relief child care centers in partnership with the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, Michigan 2-1-1, local education agencies, employers, early childhood educators, private or community-based child care centers, and licensed in-home providers.
“As COVID-19 continues to spread across our state, ISDs are supporting this vital need of our communities,” said Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) Executive Director Dr. William Miller.
The Executive Order allows both public and nonpublic school facilities to be used for disaster relief child care centers focused on providing services for members of the essential workforce. According to Miller,
child care locations and offerings may be different depending on the needs in each community.
Those in the essential workforce provide critical infrastructure to Michiganders including: health care workers, home health workers, direct care workers, emergency medical service providers, first responders, law enforcement personnel, sanitation workers, child care workers, personnel providing correctional services, postal workers, public health employees, key government employees and court personnel.
Through MAISA, ISDs are continuing to work with the Governor’s Office, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Michigan Department of Education and other statewide partners on this much-needed effort.
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Early Literacy Professional Learning Team Shares Literacy Resources
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MAISA and Michigan Virtual recognize that COVID-19 may have the education community feeling isolated or disconnected. We would like to offer some ways to remain virtually connected around our shared commitments in literacy.
The following resources are FREE and available
at
literacyessentials.org
*SCECH’s are available for the Modules*
Below are links to two documents:
Please use this information for your own learning or pass along to your networks.
The Early Literacy Team
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Flattening the Curve Video from PBS
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This well-done, 8-minute video shows why social distancing is so critical. The easily-understood graphics and math help (even math-challenged) viewers understand the exponential spread of the COVID-19 virus. It's an excellent lesson on several levels. Please feel free to share.
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News Release: Food Service to Children Continues Through the "Stay Home" Order
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LANSING, MICH. School meals will continue to be served to Michigan children throughout the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order declared by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday, the Michigan Department of Education reiterated today.
"Families will still be able to access meals for their children through this challenging time," said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. "I thank all of the school employees and volunteers for continuing their commitment to feeding the children of our state. Ensuring Michigan’s children continue to get the food they need every day is vitally important."
Executive Order
2020-21
directed residents of Michigan to remain at home, prohibiting public and private gatherings among non-family members, and barring non-essential work activities. The executive order took effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
The work of food provision is considered critical infrastructure, which is exempted from these prohibitions. In a message released to the public Monday, Governor Whitmer affirmed that she "is committed to ensuring that Michigan students have access to the food they need during the COVID-19 pandemic." View Governor Whitmer’s full statement here:
https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90640-522683--,00.html
.
The "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order makes specific allowances for food and agriculture work to continue. This includes food service operations at schools, childcare institutions and centers, and emergency feeding operations across the state.
School meals will continue to be provided by school districts currently doing so until further notice. Over 1,400 school meal sites around the state can be found at
Meet Up and Eat Up Site Locator Map
.
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